New fishing gear trends

[The Rooster]

So, I guess sooner or later I will have to get used to the changing trends in fishing gear, such as baitcasters now using bent or swept handles, carbon fiber handles, and EVA paddle knobs. It seems a lot of them have gone that direction. Now that some have been around for awhile, has anyone noticed any problems? Anything like handles becoming loose from wear at metal to carbon contact points where it connects to the main gear shaft, or maybe EVA paddle grips not holding up? I had a rod once with EVA for the grip and I got catfish slime on it and it seemed to eat the top layer away. Left it permanently marked.

From curiosity, why is it that EVA used to be found on every cheap rod at Walmart in the $20 range and was used for handles, while cork was on the better ones, and now EVA is coming back and showing up on high end rods? This may also just be me but I have taken it as being suggested that it's the next step up over cork now, providing a better grip in wet conditions, blah blah blah. It was around 20 years ago. The old orange and black Ugly Stiks even had it.

[LgMouthGambler]

Just buy a quality reel and you shouldn't have any problems.

[Pferox]

Quality cork is getting harder and more expensive to come by compared to years ago, so synthetic grips and handles are getting more prevalent.  The other thing is that EVA and other synthetics have improved greatly over the years.  Heck look at all the stuff being made of carbon fibre and plastics in other products that hold up for long periods of time.